Internet call waiting

ABSTRACT

A telephony call-waiting system for clients having a computer with a video display unit (PCNDU) and a public-switched telephony network (PSTN) telephone connected to the PSTN by a single line, keeps a status indication of the client&#39;s Internet connection status and, during periods of time the PC/VDU is connected to the Internet, alerts the client by an alert signal over the Internet connection of any waiting PSTN calls. In a preferred embodiment the client&#39;s PC/VDU is adapted to provide an audio and/or visual alert event when an alert signal is received, and to provide for a user-initiated response to an alert, accepting or rejecting a call. In the event a call is accepted, provision is made for connecting the accepted call to the client&#39;s PC/VDU as an IP call. In some embodiments several calls may be dealt with at the PC/VDU, and features are provided such as caller-ID on the client&#39;s VDU. Several ways of accomplishing the call-waiting system are taught.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of Internet communication andpertains more particularly to apparatus and methods for providing callwaiting services for what are known as Internet Phone (IP) calls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention deals with telephony systems, includingconventional telephone calls delivered to a telephone, and what areknown now in the art as Internet Phone (IP) calls, which are telephonecalls delivered over the Internet, and to which a user interfaces with acomputer station, such as a personal computer (PC) during a sessionwherein the user is connected to the Internet. To avoid confusion aconvention is adopted for the purposes of this specification wherein theconventional telephone calls delivered over the public-switchedtelephony network to a telephone will be called PSTN calls, and the IPcalls will continue to be called IP calls.

The Internet is a global matrix of linked computers and file serversproviding a virtually unlimited pool of knowledge to any user who has aconnection for access. The state of the Internet is continually evolvingand changing both in scope and technology. What has evolved from a typeof military infrastructure has become a largely civilian super-structureallowing exchange of information to take place rapidly from almost anylocation in the world.

At the time of the present patent application, Internet infrastructuresare largely land-based, transmitting data over digital links and analoglines, and the like. The typical user connections for the land-basedinfrastructure include a telephone line, a modem, and an InternetService Provider (ISP) through which connection to the Internet isprovided. Generally speaking, these connective elements are all that arerequired for a user to have the basic capability to access the Internet,provided the user has a PC with at least minimum system requirements.

At the time of the present patent application, it is believed by theinventor that between 60% and 80% of persons having Internet access haveonly one telephone line to their premises, and the one line is connectedto their personal computer and is also the user's regular telephone forreceiving PSTN calls. It is well known in the art that a telephone linethat is connected to a computer station and receiving digital data fromthe Internet cannot, at the same time, receive a PSTN call. Therefore,if a person were to call someone who happens to be in a current sessionon the Internet and using that particular line, the person placing thecall would receive a busy signal. Because of this, if the personbrowsing the Internet has call-waiting service, the call waiting featurehas to be disabled while browsing the Internet, because a call-waitingsignal would disrupt an Internet data transfer.

A typical telephone connection dedicated to accessing the Internet canbe expensive to maintain for a typical family that also maintains atelephone connection for conventional PSTN call use. Many familiessimply cannot afford to maintain more than one telephone line as wouldbe required to browse the Internet and also receive PSTN calls in anormal fashion. Being restricted to one telephone line that is used forboth Internet access and PSTN calls can be more than just aninconvenience for a family, especially for a family with children. Forexample, while a user with a single phone line is browsing the Internet,one of the user's children may be trying to phone home. There is no waythe user can receive even emergency calls.

Personal Computers (PCs) on the market today are typically capable ofmultimedia communication. For example, with the appropriate software,speakers, a standard microphone, and a sound card, a typical PC can beused as a voice communication device much like a telephone. Thusequipped, a caller can engage in two-way, real-time communication withone or more people while connected to the Internet. Since the Internetis the communication medium for such applications, there are no tollcharges involved for long distance connections. While not accruing tollcharges is a distinct advantage with this type of arrangement, adrawback is that persons called or calling an Internet-connected usermust have a multimedia PC connected to the Internet and have thematching software installed.

What is clearly needed is a system including software executable on amultimedia PC whereby a person connected to the Internet and having onlyone telephone line can continue to receive PSTN calls from a user andmake PSTN telephone calls to persons not connected to the Internet whilehe or she is engaged in an on-line browsing session. Such a system wouldalleviate inconvenience and concern associated with the inability toreceive possibly important telephone calls while on-line. Such a methodcould also alleviate the expense associated with the addition of asecond telephone line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an Internetcall-waiting telephony system is provided, comprising a telephony linkadapted to connect a client's computer station and the client'spublic-switched telephony network (PSTN) telephone to a local PSTNswitch; a port at the local PSTN switch adapted to receive PSTN callsdirected to the client; a status indicator indicating the client'sInternet connection status; and an IP interface adapted to convert aPSTN telephone call to an Internet telephone protocol, the IP interfaceconnected to both the PSTN and the Internet. During time that the statusindicator indicates the client is Internet-connected, on receiving aPSTN call directed to the client, the system sends, via the IPinterface, an alert signal of a call waiting to an IP address associatedwith the client.

In preferred embodiments the system further comprises a client stationhaving a PSTN telephone and a computer station having a video displayunit (VDU), the computer station and the PSTN telephone connected to asingle line connected to the telephony link. In these embodiments thecomputer station is adapted to provide an alert event on receipt of thealert signal of a call waiting, and to provide a user-initiated responseto the IP interface, indicating one of acceptance or refusal of the callwaiting. Upon acceptance response, the IP interface is adapted toconnect the PSTN call to the client's computer station over the client'sInternet connection. The alert event can be any one of several events orcombinations of audio signals and visual indicia on the VDU.

In some embodiments, upon connection of an IP call to the client'scomputer station, the client's computer station is adapted to play apre-recorded announcement to the caller. In some embodiments as well thesystem further comprises a second telephony switch to which the incomingPSTN calls directed to the client are forwarded, the second telephonyswitch being coupled to the IP interface. In some embodiments as well,the client's PC/VDU connects to the Internet through the local PSTNswitch to an Internet Service provider (ISP), and the IP interfacecoupled to the second telephony switch connects to the Internet throughthe client's ISP.

There are several ways Internet call-waiting according to embodiments ofthe invention may be implemented. In some the client's PC/VDU connectsto the Internet by dialing the ISP via a dialing string, and the dialingstring comprises commands to cause the local PSTN switch to set up callforwarding of the PSTN calls directed to the client to the secondtelephony switch. In other embodiments there is a server coupled to theclient's ISP and to the second telephony switch, and a special log-inprocedure at the ISP for the client initiates action by the server todirect the second telephony switch to call the local PSTN switch with aremote call forwarding number associated with the client, directing thelocal PSTN switch to set up call forwarding for incoming PSTN callsdirected to the client. In still other embodiments there is a servercoupled to the client's ISP and to a CTI-server connected by a CTI linkto the local PSTN switch, and a special log-in procedure at the ISP forthe client initiates action by the server to direct the CTI-server todirect incoming PSTN calls directed to the client to the secondtelephony switch. The server and the CTI-server may be the same server.

In a special embodiment of the invention the IP interface is coupled tothe local PSTN switch and the client's PC/VDU is adapted, when Internetconnection is established, to contact a WEB server also coupled to thelocal PSTN switch, initiating Internet call waiting, wherein incomingcalls directed to the client's PSTN telephone through the local PSTNswitch are intercepted, and an alert is provided to the client's PCNVDUvia the IP interface of a call waiting.

The Internet call-waiting system of the present invention, in its manyembodiments, provides for the first time a way for a client having acomputer and Internet connection ability, but just a single telephoneline, to continue to receive PSTN telephone calls while engaged in anactive Internet session. Moreover, many features are provided not beforeavailable in telephony systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a simplified overview of a telephony system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified process flow chart illustrating a basic featuresin an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In various embodiments of the present invention, described in enablingdetail below, a telephony system is provided wherein, during the time aclient is connected to the Internet, a unique call-waiting system isenabled. The unique call-waiting system alerts the client by audioand/or video display at the client's Internet-connected computer when aPSTN call is waiting. Facility is provided wherein the client can chooseto connect to a waiting call, whereby the selected call is connected tothe client's computer over the Internet connection as an IP call. Insome embodiments facility is also provided for alerting a client tomultiple calls waiting, and the client is enabled to refuse calls,connect to calls, or connect and return an automatic pre-recordedannouncement. In various embodiments of the invention the client'sconnection status is maintained in various ways, described below inenabling detail.

FIG. 1 is a simplified overview of a telephony-communication network andsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein PSTNtelephone calls placed to a client's telephone number cause an alert tobe sent to the client via the client's Internet-connected computer, andaccepted calls may be converted to IP calls and connected to the clientwithout interruption of an ongoing Internet session. In thisspecification the term client is used to mean any person to whom theservices of the invention are provided in practicing the invention inany embodiment.

The inventor in the following disclosure teaches several embodiments ofthe invention wherein PSTN calls may be routed to a client having anongoing Internet session and Internet telephone capability, after firstalerting the client to the call or calls waiting. It will be apparent tothe skilled artisan that the embodiments described below are examples ofpractice of the invention, and are not meant to be limiting. There areother possible alterations that may be made within the scope of theinvention.

In the system of FIG. 1 a client premises 110 comprises a telephone 111and a personal computer 112 sharing a telephone line and linked to atelephony switch 151 in public-switched telephone network (PSTN) 100 viaa line 150. Telephony line 150 may be of the form of analog connection,digital and analog connection such as ISDN, or any other line typedeemed appropriate to carry both digital data and analog data. Telephonyswitch 151 is exemplary of switches in the PSTN, and via switch 151 theclient may place telephone calls via telephone 111 to virtually anywhereon the planet, and may also connect through the PSTN and an InternetService Provider's (ISP) modem bank 120 to the Internet network,indicated by network cloud 101. Once connected to the ISP and logged on,the client can browse the Internet, connecting to a multitude of serversalso connected to the Internet network. In embodiments of the presentinvention, the client at premises 110 will be logged onto the Internetas described immediately above.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a person at a premises 115having a telephone 116 places a PSTN call to the client at station 110using the telephone 116 connected to PSTN 100 via line 152. Caller 115may or may not have a PC or an Internet connection. To clearlyillustrate the present invention it is intended, for purposes of thisexample, that the person at premises 115 has no PC and is not connectedto the Internet.

In one embodiment of the present invention, when a client places a callto log onto the Internet via his Internet Service Provider (ISP), apre-defined forwarding number is programmed into telephony switch 151using the Centrex functions of the switch, and the client's call-waitingservices (if any) are temporarily discontinued. The necessary commandsmay be added to the dialing string, for example, that is used by theclient's computer to dial-up the ISP. Centrex functions are softwarefunctions that are part of a normal telephone service such as callwaiting, call forwarding, conference calling, and the like.

The number to which incoming calls for telephone 111 are forwarded is adestination number associated with a telephony switch 141. While theclient is connected to the ISP, all incoming calls that are designatedfor the client at station 110 (telephone 111) are routed via line 154 toswitch 141.

Telephony switch 141 has an IP telephony interface, that is, the switchis adapted to convert incoming calls for telephone 111 into digitalInternet protocol telephone calls using a Transfer ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) format and connection 136, androuting the data to the Internet. TCP/IP is a standard communicationprotocol that is well known in the art and utilized in much computerintegrated communication with the Internet. In some embodiments thenecessary hardware and software interface to do the call conversion maybe integrated with telephony switch 141. In other embodiments there maybe external equipment connected to switch 141 and to link 136.

At telephony switch 141 the conversion is made and the call is routedthrough TCP/IP link 136 to an Internet sub-net 131 hosted by ISP 130.Now converted to one of several Internet formats (actual format dependson the client's Internet phone application (IPA) 113), the call can bereceived by customer 110 in the form of an Internet phone call to PC 112running an instance of an IPA 113.

To process incoming calls it is necessary that switch 141, or aprocessor connected to the switch, have a look-up table or other meansfor associating client's with IP numbers. The association is made duringsetup. The association can be made from destination number data arrivingat switch 141 with a forwarded call. When a forwarded call is receivedat switch 141, an association is made to the client, the client's IPaddress is retrieved, and the call is forwarded to sub-net 131 as a IPtelephone call. In many cases, clients will not have a permanent IPaddress, as the IP address for many services is assigned anew each timethe client logs on. In this case, the IP address is retrieved from theclient's ISP 130, or from the client's IPA 113. It will be apparent tothose with skill in the art how this may be done in many ways.

In another aspect of the invention the client's computer station isadapted to deal with incoming calls in a variety of ways. Thisadaptation is accomplished through software, such as by a plug-inoperating in concert with the client's WEB browser. An importantfunction of this application is to alert the client to a waiting call,because the call alert is now coming on the Internet connection and noton telephone 111. In a preferred embodiment, when an incoming call isreceived at switch 141 an alert signal is sent over the Internet to theclient at computer station 112, and the signal initiates an alert actionat the client's computer. The client's software may display a telephoneicon, for example, on the video display of the computer, and the alertsignal may result in an audio "ringing" accomplished through themultimedia abilities of the client's computer, together with a visualeffect, such as the telephone vibrating on the screen. Also in apreferred embodiment caller ID information may arrive with the alertsignal, and cause the caller's ID to be displayed in conjunction withthe audio/visual alert.

In a preferred embodiment the client may respond to the audio/visualalert in a number of ways. Firstly, the client may elect to accept thecall, which action may be predicated in any number of ways known in theart, such as double-clicking the alert icon. When the client accepts thecall, the system completes the IP call to the client via link 136,sub-net 131, and the client's Internet connection.

In alternative embodiments, additional functionality may be built in tothe client's application, such as an ability to handle more than onecall at a time, presenting the client with separate icons or otherindicia for each call, including caller ID. The client may select toreturn pre-recorded messages as well, such as "Thank you for the call.I'm on an Internet session. Please call back after 4:00 PM." In anotheralternative the client may select to take the call as a PSTN call, andend the Internet session, at which time the system forwards the call tothe client as a PSTN call to telephone 111. In yet another embodiment ofthe invention the client may elect to continue the Internet session, butto have the incoming call forwarded to a conventional (not Internetprotocol) telephone number, such as a cellular telephone which theclient may have nearby, or another telephone set in the same premises.In this embodiment the system is adapted to redirect the incoming callaccording to the recipient's selection. In this embodiment the clientmat set his/her routing rules in subscribing to the service to haveincoming calls during browsing sessions redirected to a cell phonenumber, an alternate telephone at or near his/her premises, or to someother destination. Alternatively the client may select a forwardingafter being alerted to an incoming call.

In embodiments of the invention switch 141 and associated equipmentalong with a subscription service allowing client's to register andprovide the necessary information to use the service (telephone number,IP address, etc.), may be implemented in a number of ways. For example,this equipment and service may be provided by an Internet ServiceProvider, such as ISP 130, as shown in FIG. 1, or may be provided by,for example, a local telephone company.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, initiation ofservice through switch 141 is accomplished through ISP 130, rather thanby call forwarding via the Centrex functions of a PSTN switch, as in thefirst embodiment described above. Referring again to FIG. 1, in thisalternative embodiment, at the time of Internet connection, using anamended log-in procedure for subscribers to the service, a command issent from modem bank 120 associated with ISP 130 to a telephone-surveyserver 133 connected to sub-net 131 of ISP 131. Telephone survey server133 is a special server hosted by ISP 130 in this embodiment, and is therepository of the subscriber list, look-up tables for associatingsubscriber's numbers with IP addresses, and so forth, as describedabove.

Telephone-survey server 133 is connected via digital link 134 to aCTI-server (hereinafter T-Server) 142. It will be apparent to one withskill in the art that T-server 142 and telephone-survey server 133 maybe one server capable of the required functions of the presentinvention. Separate servers are illustrated here for the explicitpurpose of describing separate functionality.

T-server 142 in this embodiment is a CTI-Sever capable of monitoring anddirecting activities of switch 141. T-Server 142 receives direction vialink 134 from telephone-survey server 133 and directs switch 141 toinitiate a call to the remote access forwarding number of the client,thereby directing forwarding of incoming calls for the client to anumber at switch 141. From this point operation is the same as describedabove for the first embodiment, with incoming calls being converted atthe IP interface associated with switch 141 to TCP/IP protocol androuted to the client via connection 136 and ISP 130.

There are certain advantages to this embodiment made possible by theunique server capability. One advantage is that due to bypassing thecentrex functions of telephony switch 151 by having the modem bankinitiate the forwarding command to T-server 142, no delay would beexperienced by customer 110 in logging on to the Internet.

Another advantage of a server-controlled environment is that withappropriate software features available with PC 112 (plug-in 114), amethod is enabled whereby the client at station 110 can place a call toa person not connected to the Internet such as a friend, or publicbusiness, and so on, without disconnecting from the browsing session. Tofurther illustrate, assume that customer 110 is engaged in a currentInternet session with a single line, and has realized that he must placea time-sensitive call to confirm a business appointment. Icons availablethrough his plug-in 114 could be matched with the conventional telephonenumber of the person he desires to contact. This can be done either byaccessing telephone-survey server 133 over the Internet and initiatingthe appropriate configuration of the selected icon to that particularanalog number, or by obtaining the desired number from a telephone bookand manually configuring it to the selected icon. Instead of dialing theanalog number from the single Internet-connected analog telephone aswould be required without the appropriate software, customer 110 doubleclicks the icon representing the desired contact and Internet phoneapplication 113 places a digital call through modem bank 120, sub-net131, and TCP/IP link 136 to telephony switch 141 where the digital callis converted to analog. Switch 141 then places the analog call to thedesired destination, and performs the two-way conversion required forthe on-going call once connection is made. Associated toll charges couldbe stored on a separate server such as server 143, and later billed tocustomer 110 in a conventional manner such as on his telephone bill.

It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that once connected toan analog phone, continued analog to digital and digital to analog dataconversion would be required to maintain dialog in the conversation. Afull-duplex sound card will be required on PC 112 to enable the clientat station 110 to receive and send audio at the same time, avoidingproblems such as the need to wait until the incoming transaction iscomplete before speaking and so on.

In another embodiment of the invention switch 151 is connected toCTI-server 142 via a CTI link 153, (FIG. 1) and T-Server 142 may therebymonitor and direct activities of switch 151 directly. In thisembodiment, when the client at station 110 logs on to ISP 130 via modembank 120, T-Server 142 recognizes the activity, and sets up callforwarding of incoming PSTN calls for that client to switch 141, wheresuch calls are converted and directed via the Internet as describedabove for the first two embodiments.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the local telephone companymay have a server (not shown) connected to switch 151 for performingfunctions according to the present invention. This server could be aCTI-server connected via a CTI link and executing a CTI application, orcould be a server of another sort, or the functionality may beintegrated with the functions of switch 151. The special server isInternet-connected, and hosts a WEB page. In this embodiment plug-in 114in the client's WEB Browser, after connection is made to the Internetthrough switch 151, negotiates with the server through the Internet,which then sets up switch 151 to redirect incoming calls through theInternet to the client. This embodiment has the advantage of providingall the necessary services at the local PSTN switch hosted by the phonecompany, and the ISP need not be involved.

It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the hardware usedin various embodiments of the present invention is well known in the artand can be utilized in various ways without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

In some embodiment of the present invention, any one of severalcommercially-available Internet telephone software packages may be used

FIG. 2 is a process flow chart illustrating various steps in practicingan embodiment of the present invention in a general and broad sense Atstep 303 the client places a call to access his/her dial up ISP. Thesystem at step 305 activates Internet callwaiting for that client whilethe client is connected to the Internet through the ISP.

At step 307 an incoming call is placed for the client. At step 309 thesystem sends an alert to the client via the client's Internet connectionthat there is a call waiting. At step 311 the client responds to thealert by accepting the call. At step 313 the incoming call is routedthrough the Internet to the client as an Internet phone call.

Interaction of the client's PC to incoming calls, and function ofsoftware of the client's PC in practicing the invention in other wayshas been described to some extent above. In all cases there needs to bea minimum software ability at the client's station to receive Internettelephone calls, and there are several commercially-availableapplications for the purpose. Moreover, a plug-in for a client's WEBBrowser has been described for providing functionality according toseveral embodiments of the present invention. Considerably morefunctionality may be provided in some embodiments than presentlyavailable from commercially-available Internet Phone software. Thesoftware at the client's PC, for example, may cause icons and windows tobe displayed in a graphic user interface (GUI) such that incoming callsmay be displayed as icons, labeled as to caller and time, and so on.Functionality may be provided such that selecting an icon may connectthe call to the client's speakers and microphone such that aconversation may take place. Other windows and functions may be providedas well, and many will be apparent to those with skill in tile art inaddition to those that have been herein taught

Several embodiments have herein been described for practicing thepresent invention, and given the teaching herein, more may be apparentto the skilled artisan. Moreover, there are many alterations that mightbe made in the embodiments described, without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. There are, for example, many individualpreferences in coding software while providing essentially the samefunctionality. There are also variations in connectivity that might bemade and variations in computer platforms provided for accomplishing theends of the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. The breadth of the invention is limited, therefore, onlyby the language of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. An Internet call-waiting telephony system,comprising:a local PSTN switch for receiving calls from clients andswitching the calls to remote a Computer Telephony Integration (CTI)server connected to the local PSTN switch by a CTI link and executing afirst CTI application; and an Internet-connected subscription serverconnected to both the PSTN and the Internet and executing an InternetCall Waiting software application; wherein the CTI server monitors thelocal PSTN switch for a call placed from the client to a pre-storedtelephone number for the client's Internet Service Provider (ISP) forestablishing an internet connection, upon detecting the ISP callcontrols the PSTN switch to automatically forward incoming calls for theclient to the Internet-connected subscription server for the duration ofthe call to the ISP, and wherein the Internet-connected subscriptionserver, upon receiving a forwarded call, alerts the client on theInternet of the PSTN call waiting.
 2. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising an IP interface at the Internet-connected subscription serverenabled to, in response to client signals, connect received PSTN callsto the client via the Internet as IP telephony calls.
 3. The system ofclaim 2 further comprising a client station including a personalcomputer having a video display unit (PC/VDU) and a telephone, andclient software wherein the PC/VDU is enabled to receive and displayalerts from the subscription server and to interact on IP calls throughthe subscription server.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein a client,through the client software, is enabled to place outgoing calls as IPcalls to the subscription server, the outgoing calls including an ID fora PSTN telephone number, and the subscription server, through the IPinterface, is enabled to convert the outgoing IP calls to PSTN calls, todial the PSTN telephone numbers, and to connect the resulting PSTN callto the client through the established IP call.
 5. A method for providingInternet call waiting for a client having a computer with a videodisplay unit (PC/VDU) connected to the Internet and a PSTN telephoneconnected on the same line, comprising steps of:(a) monitoring Internetconnection status of the client via a Computer Telephony Integration(CTI) server executing a CTI application connected by a CTI link to alocal PSTN switch servicing the client; (b) controlling the local PSTNswitch to forward any calls to the client's telephone to anInternet-connected subscription server upon detection of an Internetconnection by the client; and (c) alerting the client via the client'sPC/VDU on the Internet for any PSTN call received for the client at thesubscription server.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising a stepfor connecting received PSTN calls at the subscription server through anIP interface to the client as IP telephony calls.
 7. The method of claim5 further comprising a step for placing outbound IP calls including aPSTN telephone number from the client to the subscription server, andthe subscription server dialing the PSTN telephone number and completingthe call as a PSTN call through the IP interface.